Removable refrigerating unit



Patented Oct. 28, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFHCE 2,429,9s4- I I REMOVABLE nnrnrcnna'rmo UNIT Melvin S.'Groh, Preston, Ontario, Canada Application August 1'1, 1944, S eriaI No. 549,902

3Claims. (Cl. 62116) The invention'relates to a device for cooling and freezing liquids and solids and more particularly liquid or solid'foods and beverages. V

The object of the invention is to provide a cooling and freezing device having interior spaces defined therein in which goods may be selectively placed so as to be frozen quickly or be slowly frozen according to the nature of goods which are placed therein.

It is also an object of this invention to furnish a cooling and freezing device having a large volume of storage space therein in which foods and perishable goods .may' be frozen and storedin quantity without becoming too quickly frozen, while other goods may be simultaneously placed therein for rapid freezing. I

A further object of this invention is to provide a mechanically operated cooling and freezing device including a storage casing having a compressor unit swingably mountable in an easily accessible position outside the storage casing.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mechanically operated cooling and freezing device including a compressor unit, a connection with an evaporator unit and fast-freezing means which may be easily detached, as a unit, from an insulated casing for shipment when repairs to the mechanical parts become necessary.

A further important object of the invention is to furnish a cooling and freezing device including an insulated casing and a compressor unit hingedly connected to an evaporator and fast freezing means, the latter members being easily detachable, as a unit, from the casing and being foldable with the compressor so as to occupy the minimum space for storage or transportation purposes. I

This invention consists of a refrigerating unit v attachable to a compressor and condenser assembly having refrigerant conduit lines-to a fastfreezing means, whence the conduit supply line is carried to an evaporator coil positioned so as to have maximum effect on the fast freezing means, the conduit thence returning back again to the compressor. The refrigerating unit itself is adapted to be detachably mounted inside an insulated casing whil the compressor and condenser assembly is designed to be hingedly mounted on the refrigerating unit and to be supported outside the casing} so that in case of failure of any of the mechanical parts of the device the compressor and condenser, refrigerant lines and the refrigerating unit may be easily removed from the casing and folded for shipment, as va unit, to a servicing centre and without the neces- 'sity of transporting a bulky casing.

In the drawings,

ing, the latter having the refrigerating unit mounted therein;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the fast-freezing means and the evaporator and including the movable bracket means on which the compressor is mounted.- a

Figure 3' is an enlarged fragmentary detailed view of the hinge means and transverse support member. v

a Figure 4 is a front view of the hing means and transverse support member.

- to be frozen slowly are placed, and having the cover l2. The top portion l3 of the casing is provided with a raised portion M adapted to support the compressor I5 and condenser I511. The compressor and condenser assembly may be secured to the bracket [6 attached to the hinge means l'l, these being journalledto a transverse member 24 secured to the upper parts of the framework l8.

The framework l8 forms a housing for refrigerant cooling coils l9. Transversely spaced along the coils l9 and in connection therewith are the plate-like members illdisposed to effect a more rapid and more even distribution of the temperature of the coils. The lower part of the framework consists of the fast-freezing means 2 l To the upper front portion 22 and the rear upper portion 23 of the framework is secured the U-shaped transverse bracing member 24 forming also a support means for the hinge means l1,

ant conduitsupply pipe 25 from the condenser |5a passes through an aperture 26 in the central portion of the hinge means l'l, continuing by the conduit 21 to the expansion valve 28, whence the conduit returns to the back of the fast-freezing means, as at 29, and along the rear wall 34, side wall 3| and base 33,'before entering the'cooling portion 30 of the coils' l9, returning also through the aperture 26 in the hinge means H to the conduit 30a whence it travels to the compressor which is not illustrated in Figure 2.

For cleaning purposes, the front of the framework I8 is open while the side walls 3| and rear wall 34 are closed, being supported by the vertical and it is to be understood that the refrigerant.

conduit from the portion 29 to the portion 30 is preferably in intimate contact with the sides, rear member and base member which form the fastfreezing chamber.

The detailed structure of the transverse member 24 and the hinge means I! will best be understood by reference to Figures 3 and 4. The members 24 are secured to thermcmbers 22 and 23 of the framework by the front flanges 35, rear flanges 36 and the fasteners 31. The hinge means I! are provided with a projecting sleeve 38 which is journalled through the folded overportions 39 and 40 of member 24, the sleeve being secured through the latter by a suitable clip 43. Integral with the sleeve is an upwardly projecting portion 4| having a bearing surface 42 thereon and designed to form a locking or securing means to hold the framework 18 rigidly when in suspended position. In this connection the bearing surface 42 is\designed to seat on the front portion 22 of the framework l8 and hold it rigidly in respect tion as seen in Figure 2.

In operation, the unit comprisin the framework, fast-freezing means, evaporator, refrigerant conduits, brackets and hinge means and having the mounted compressor unit connected with the refrigerant conduits, is placed vn'thin the casing Ill, The brackets [6 are disposed so as to be supported by the raised portion l4 of the cascontact with the walls of the fast freezing compartment, a feeding conduit connected between said condenser and said pipes, said pipes being led to said evaporator and forming a coil unit therein to refrigerate said compartment and a return conduit connected between said coil unit and said compressor, said feeding and return conduits being led to said unit substantially along the axial line of hinging of said bracket to said .to the brackets 16 when.these are in raised posiing, the portions 44 being located in corresponding apertures 45 in the casing as shown best in Figure 1. The compressor being now set in motion, the maximum cooling effect of the refrigeration is first transferred to every surface of the fastfreezing chamber 2|. Subsequently, the refrigerant passes to the coils l9 where the coldness is dissipated progressively to the cooling space I I by members 20. In addition, the coils l9 cause a downward flow of cooled air on to the fast-freezing member 33, thus intensifying the cooling effect of member 33 and causing any goods placed thereon to become very rapidly frozen.

When mechanical repairs are required the unit is lifted out of .thecasing, the compressor and conduits being folded compactly with the framework l8, as shown in Figure 5, and without any disconnection of parts, in readiness for shipment to a servicing centre.

It will be evident that variousmodifications may be made to thepreferred embodiment as described within the scope and tenor of the claims appended.

What I claim as my invention is:

l. A cooler comprising a refrigerating chamber, a. refrigerating unit suspended within the chamber, said unit including an evaporator and a fast freezing compartment adjacent to one another, bracket means hingedly connected to said unit mounted exteriorly of the chamber and suspending said unit withinthe chamber, means cooperating between the bracket and said unit for maintaining said unit rigidly in. respect to the bracket when in suspended position, a compressorand condenser assembly mounted on said bracket outside the container, refrigerating pipes in intimate ating chamber within the cabinet and having an accessible opening through the top of the cabinet, at refrigerating unit suspended within the cabinet including a compartment for fast freezing and an evaporator adjacent thereto, a bracket member extending from outside the cabinet into the chamber for suspending the unit, a compressor and a condenser assembly mounted on the outside of said cabinet and connected with said bracket in a position to one side of and above the accessible opening to said cabinet, refrigerating pipes in intimate contact with the walls of the compartment of said refrigerating unit, a feeding conduit connecting between said condenser and said pipes, the latter being led to said evaporator and forming a coil unit therein to refrigerate said compartment, said coil unit being connected with the compressor, said evaporator forming a means for refrigerating the compartment and for supplementing the low temperature freezing character-.

istics of said fast freezing compartment.

3. A cooling unit for a cooler having a refrigerating chamber comprising a framework having a. compartment therein for fast freezing and an evaporator adjacent thereto for refrigerating the chamber, bracket members swingably connected to said framework for suspending the unit within said chamber, a condenser and compressor assembly mounted on said bracket, refrigerating pipes in intimate contact with the walls of said fast freezing compartment, a refrigerant feeding conduit connected between the condenser and said pipes, said pipes being led to said evaporator and forming a coil unit therein to refrigerate said chamber, a.return pipe connected between said coil unit and said compressor, a section of said feeding and return conduits being disposed to lie along the axial line of hinging connection between said bracket and said framework, said bracket including the compressor and condenser assembly being swingable to lie in folded relation with respect to said framework when said unit is disassociated from said cabinet.

MELVIN S. GROH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

